“Sure, if that’s what Emily wants.” Isabel and her attorney husband, Alex, lived in a beautiful two-story home in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Paradise Valley. They often hosted parties on their expansive stone patio that overlooked a lush, sprawling lawn.
“Oh, I can see it now,” Camille beamed, obviously ignoring what Emily just said, imagining the event as she waved her hand through the air. “A beautiful wedding under a big white canopy on the lawn, and we can set up the food tables on the patio and have a lovely stringed quartet and dancing there.”
Emily shook her head in disgust.
Maggie’s face lit up with excitement. “And there’ll be lots of flowers and loads of sparklin’ lights and—”
“Listen to me! That’s not what I want,” Emily insisted. The feverish excitement screeched to a halt.
Isabel stood. “I think there are too many chiefs in this room, girls, and not enough Indians. This is Emily’s wedding we’re talking about here, and she should have whatever she wants. I’m happy to have the wedding and the reception at my house, if that’s what she wants. And that’s all I’m going to say about it.” She glanced down at her watch. “I need to get back to work.”
“You don’t like weddin’s much, do you?” Maggie asked, pursing her lips and flashing her sad puppy dog eyes.
“Not really. There’s a lot of time spent planning the thing, not to mention the money and stress, for something that’s over in a few hours,” Isabel said. “That’s why Alex and I eloped. We just wanted to get on with the marriage. For what we would have spent on a big elaborate wedding, we put a nice down payment on our house instead.”
“Well, there’d better not be any eloping for you, Emily.” Camille wagged a finger. “We’re going to make sure this is a fabulous wedding. This town will be talking about it for years.”
“Oh, no you don’t,” Emily cut in, irritated, shaking her head. Was the whole process going to be a battle? She raised her hands in question. “Isn’t anybody listening? That’s not what we want. Save the wedding of the year for your daughter, Camille. Colin and I want it kept simple. I don’t know how I can make that any more plain.”
Elise reached over and patted Emily’s hand, offering her a confident smile. “Don’t worry, Emily, it will be simple, yet elegant.”
“And the best part is that you won’t have to lift a finger,” Camille added. “Trust me.”
Emily rolled her eyes and breathed a laugh, not at all certain she got through to Camille. “Famous last words.”
Chapter 2
After meeting with the girls and her new wedding planner, Emily was spent. Rather than a planning session, it felt more like a wrestling match, trying to rein in Camille and Maggie and their extravagant ideas.
No matter how many times Emily had said small and simple, Camille and Maggie had put forth lavish and expensive ideas. Fortunately, Elise had skillfully battled to keep Emily’s wishes at the forefront, and Emily appreciated her for that. Maybe having Elise help her with the wedding plans, instead of Camille, was a blessing in disguise.
Emily had gone back to her office to pay some bills and do a few employee background checks before heading home for a late lunch. Now, mentally and emotionally exhausted, she turned her computer off and headed out the door.
As she was locking up, she again stopped and stared at the sign on her door. She slowly traced her finger over the letters, lingering over Evan’s name. Though she had locked and unlocked that door hundreds of times since Evan’s murder, she had seldom taken the time to consider the words on the glass until recently. As her marriage to Colin drew closer, she found herself becoming more keenly aware of it—aware she’d have to scrape his name off and finally let Evan go.
She pulled her car into the driveway of her neatly kept bungalow on the charming tree-lined street. Emotionally drained, a quick nap sounded like heaven. She kicked off her shoes as she came through the front door, grabbed a strawberry yogurt and a spoon from the kitchen, and headed to the bedroom.
Snuggling under her fluffy white comforter, she finished the yogurt and was asleep within minutes, but deep rest escaped her. Provocative and poignant thoughts of Evan filled her dreams, from their first meeting, their wedding, their move to Paradise Valley, and his eventual murder. The whole story played out in her head like a moving picture. The dreams were so real she thought she could reach out and touch him, but every time she tried to, he eluded her grasp.
After picturing finding him dead in his office, her vision took her to his funeral. It had been held on a cold, drizzly day, and as Emily had stood by his grave shivering, a chill rippled over her body and she shuddered. She woke with a start to find herself trembling, her comforter and blankets in a pile on the floor. Her bedroom was growing dark, telling her it was almost evening. Emily’s twenty-minute power nap had turned into five hours of restless sleep.
Her phone beeped a text on her night table. It was Colin and the message read See you in 30. Just enough time for a quick shower and change of clothes.
Bleary-eyed, she dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom. The water flowing over her body helped to clear her head.
After toweling off and fluffing her loose honey-blonde curls, she moved to her closet where she grabbed a turquoise T-shirt that Colin said matched the color of her eyes. Then she slipped into a pair of fitted white jeans, added a little blush, mascara, and a quick swipe of lip gloss. Voila! She was ready.
The doorbell rang and Emily padded in her bare feet to answer it. She swung the door open and her handsome fiancé stood there, holding a bouquet of twelve chocolate roses.
“Hey, Babe,” Colin said with a grin, stepping into the house.
Emily welcomed him with an equally big smile. She felt so lucky to have him in her life. When they had met, it almost went in an entirely different direction. Emily had recently taken over her late husband’s private investigation business and she hadn’t responded well to a few of Colin’s comments that she had seen as condescending. Colin, on the other hand, had been a police detective in San Francisco before moving to Paradise Valley, and after the death of his fiancée he had purposely distanced himself from any romantic entanglements, trying to protect himself.
But, ultimately, Colin was unable to resist Emily’s passionate spirit and her feisty attitude. Her charm and strength systematically tore down the walls around his heart, and Colin’s protective nature showed Emily that she could open her heart again too.
At first, they worked opposite sides of the same cases—Colin investigating for the police department and Emily investigating to clear the accused, oftentimes hired by Isabel’s attorney husband, Alex. When the Chief of Police hired Emily as a consultant for the police department on a per-case basis, they had multiple opportunities to work side by side to capture criminals and solve cases.
They had been dating for a few months when he surprised her with a dazzling engagement ring, dropped to one knee, and asked her to marry him. That was six months ago and now the wedding was fast approaching.
Emily slung her arms around his neck and looked up into his sexy hazel eyes before planting a warm, wet kiss on his eager lips. Then she leaned back and smiled. “Chocolate roses?”
“Maggie phoned me this afternoon, said you had a pretty tough morning and I should be extra nice to you tonight.” He held the bouquet out to her. “I thought chocolate might help.”
He knew her too well. She laughed and snapped off a chocolate petal, popping it into her mouth. “It will.” Then she took his hand, led him back to the kitchen, and they prepared dinner together.
“After what Maggie said, I’m anxious to hear how your appointment went this morning. So, you have a new wedding planner, huh?” Colin said.
“Yes. Her name is Elise and she’s a complete doll. However, that wasn’t my initial reaction to the switch, which I’m embarrassed to say, wasn’t good. But after Elise stepped in and worked as my advocate, beating back Camille’s and Maggie’s outrageous n
otions, I’m warming up to the idea.” She broke off another piece of chocolate. “I think I’m going to really like her.”
Colin poured a couple of glasses of iced tea. “Sounds like maybe you’ll be adding a fifth to your group.”
Emily set their plates on the table, shrugging. “Maybe.”
They sat across from each other and shared dinner while Emily described all the details they had decided on for the wedding and Colin did what any good fiancé should—he smiled and nodded.
When they were done, Emily rose from the table and picked up her plate and glass, taking them over to the dishwasher. “What a battle it was to keep it simple, but Elise was amazing. She stood up for me and didn’t let Camille or Maggie get anything by her.”
“I can see why you changed your view on her.” Colin stood and helped clear the dishes off the table.
They worked in tandem to tidy up the kitchen, and then after a brief debate about what movie to watch they popped a DVD into the player, and snuggled on the couch to watch a romantic comedy. It wasn’t Colin’s favorite type of movie, but he let her pick this time without much argument.
“I’d better get going,” Colin said when the final credits began to roll. “I have an early meeting in the morning.”
Emily laid her head back against the sofa and he leaned over and kissed her, softly at first, then deeply.
“I hate to go,” he whispered. “But duty calls.”
Colin rose and Emily followed him to the door.
“One more for the road?” He slid his arms around her waist and drew her in. He kissed her long and slow, and a warmth rushed through her.
“Do you really have to go?” she asked, running her hands over his broad shoulders.
His phone began to ring. “Sorry.” He dropped his embrace to answer it. “Detective Andrews.”
Colin listened to the caller, then his gaze flew in Emily’s direction.
“What is it?” she whispered.
There was a serious expression in his eyes and his voice. “I’ll head over there right now.”
He shoved the phone back in his pocket. “That was Ernie. I’ve got to go.”
“What’s happening?”
“There’s a woman missing. I need to go check it out and talk to the husband. He’s the one who reported it.”
“Can’t Ernie take the missing persons report?” Emily began snaking her hands around his waist.
“It’s not that simple this time,” he said, looking into her eyes.
Emily’s chest tightened. She thought about how somberly Colin looked at her when he was listening to the other side of the conversation and she put the pieces together. “Someone I know?”
“I’m afraid so.” He put his arms around her. “It’s Elise Murphy.”
“Elise?” She stepped back from him. “I’m coming with you. Let me get my shoes.”
“No, Emily. It’s late. Stay here and I’ll fill you in when I know something.”
“I have to go with you.” She went to the door. “You know I’d go crazy if I stayed here.”
“You’re personally involved, Emily. Please, let me handle this.”
“I’m not that personally involved.” She waved a dismissive hand in his direction as she slipped into her shoes. “It’s not like it’s Maggie or Camille we’re talking about. But I do know Elise, and that could be helpful to you. Don’t you see?”
“I see all right—I see that you’re not going to give up until I say yes.” Colin shook his head. “Okay, you can come, but if I see you’re taking this too personally, I’m sending you home. Agreed?”
~*~
By the time Colin and Emily reached the Murphy’s home, a sprawling single-level estate nestled on several acres, there was a police car already parked in the circular driveway.
Colin rang the doorbell and Officer Ernie Kaufmann opened the door.
“Hello, Ernie,” Emily greeted, following close on Colin’s heels as he stepped inside.
“Hey, Emily. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Ernie looked to Colin with a puzzled expression.
Colin shrugged and gave Emily a look as if to say I told you not to come. “What do we have, Ernie?”
Standing in the foyer, Ernie explained the circumstances to Colin and Emily. “The husband, Patrick Murphy, is sitting in the formal living room with Officer Sanchez. He said he came home a little while ago from a three-day business trip to find his house in a mess and his wife missing.”
“The whole house?” Colin asked.
“No.” Ernie looked down at his notes. “The family room, the kitchen, and the master bedroom.”
“Get a CSI unit out here,” Colin directed.
“Already done. They should be here soon.” Ernie tucked his notepad into his pocket. “You working this case too, Emily?”
“Maybe. We’ll see.” Emily glanced toward the living room, getting a glimpse of the husband seated on a plush overstuffed chair.
“I’ll go question the husband,” Colin said. “You and Sanchez get this place taped off.”
“We’re on it, Boss.” Ernie moved to the living room. “Sanchez, Detective Andrews is here.”
The female officer stood. “You’re in good hands, Mr. Murphy.” She nodded and followed Ernie out as Colin and Emily took their seats on a white silk brocade sofa opposite the husband.
Colin briefly introduced himself and Emily before diving into the questions. “Mr. Murphy, can you take us through what happened?”
Patrick Murphy was a powerful man in Paradise Valley. He was the head of a large corporation that specialized in training executives around the country in sales and management. He was wearing an expensive-looking navy suit, which, judging by the fine tailoring and superb fit, Emily determined could only be a Brioni. Even sitting there as he was, with his gold tie loosened and the top button of his crisp white shirt undone, he still exuded a commanding presence. His thick, neatly trimmed hair was considerably gray and his blue-gray eyes were rimmed with red.
Shaking his head, he dropped it into his hands. “I’ve been out of town for a few days on business. I spoke to Elise on the phone this morning and everything seemed fine.” He looked up now and ran a hand over his face. “Obviously it wasn’t.”
“Exactly what time did you return home?” Colin asked.
“The town car dropped me off at the house around ten thirty. I thought it was odd that there were no lights on in the house. It wasn’t that late. Elise often is up until eleven.”
Colin scribbled a note and then continued. “But the outside lights were on?”
“Yes, but the exterior lights come on automatically. Elise hadn’t said anything about having any of her charity events tonight. I thought maybe she wasn’t feeling well and went to bed early.”
“So then what did you do?” Colin asked.
“Well, I went through the house.”
Colin stood and gestured toward the foyer. “Show us.”
He and Emily followed Patrick Murphy into the foyer and down the hall.
“I flipped on a few lights on the way to our bedroom.” Patrick indicated the wall switches as he led them down the hallway. “The door was open and I could see from the hall light that the bed was empty.”
They all stepped into the master bedroom.
“Odd, though,” Mr. Murphy said. “The bed wasn’t made. That’s so unlike Elise. She would never leave the bed unmade.”
From what Emily knew of her, Elise did seem like a person who liked everything in its place. She poked her head into the master bathroom. “Anything else in the bedroom disturbed? Any jewelry missing?”
“Not that I know of.” He shook his head slightly, his voice had a ring of sadness. “But then I don’t know all that she has. We have a list for insurance purposes somewhere in our files. I’ll have to find it for you.” Patrick waved his arm in the air in a sharp cutting motion, his voice rising toward agitation. “But right now I don’t care about the jewelry. I care about my wife!”
>
“We understand that, Mr. Murphy,” Colin said. “We’re just trying to figure out if this was a robbery gone bad or what. We have to ask these questions.”
Emily noticed a framed photo of Elise with a young girl lying on the hardwood floor. They seemed happy. The girl must be her daughter. She looked around for any wedding pictures on the dresser or hanging on the walls, but there were none, only exquisite artwork.
“How were things between you and Elise?” she asked.
“Fine, they were just fine,” he ground out between clenched teeth. He pulled in a deep breath and his demeanor softened. “We had spats like any married couple. Who doesn’t have an argument now and then?”
“Was there anyone you can think of that had a problem with your wife?” Colin asked. “Any enemies?”
“Enemies? Elise? God, no. You don’t know Elise. She’s kind and thoughtful. Always helping out on charities.” He huffed a laugh. “No, Detective, she had no enemies.”
Emily thought about her encounter with Elise that morning. Her husband was right, she was kind and thoughtful. Strong too. The kind of woman that didn’t back down easily. The way she stood up to Camille and Maggie with their extravagant wedding ideas—while it made Emily like her all the more, she knew that strong women sometimes stood up to the wrong people.
She filed that thought away for later and pursued another track. “What about you?” Emily asked. “Anyone you can think of who might do this to get back at you for something?”
“Me?” The man looked indignant that Emily would dare ask such a thing.
“You are a wealthy and powerful man,” Colin added. “It’s not likely you got to that position without stepping on a few toes along the way.”
“Or necks,” Emily mumbled.
He furrowed his brows and spoke with a frown. “No one comes to mind, but let me think on it. Maybe there’s a disgruntled former employee or something.” Then, his lips grew taut and his voice demanding. He began to pace in front of the fireplace. “Time is wasting, people. Besides standing around here using up precious time questioning me, what is being done to find my wife? God only knows what some madman is doing to her.”
The Betrayal of Lies Page 2